Storage-battery assembly



L; LYNDUN..

STORAGE BATTERY ASSEMBLY.

Patented Jan. 4,1921.

APPLLCATWN FlLED APR. 30, 1919.

' 3 sHEETs-SHEET 2.

MI/yy 0%@ mi@ AMJ.

l.. LYNDON.

lSTORAGE BATTERY ASSEMBLY. VAPPL-|CAT|0|-| FILED APR.30.1919.

' #fi/W gym la-5s rcms. Inc. um.. mannen: l. l:A c

1 Patented Ja11.4, 1921,`

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.'

geni, oFFrc LAMAR LYNnoN, or WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, Assi'GNoR 'ro` En1so`N STORAGE :BATTERY coiviPANY, or wEsroRANGnNEw JERSEY, AA coRroRA'rIoNoE j To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, LAMAR LYNDo N, a

i citizen of the United States, and a resident ofVVest Orange, Essexl county, New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvenients in Storage-'Battery Assemblies, of which thefollowiiig is a description.

son submarine type in which an alkaline electrolyte is 'employed and the electrolyte and battery elements or plates areydisposed in a large metallic receptacle or container, although it is to be understood that my invention may be eectvely utilizedv with other types of batteries.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide an improved arrangement which is kespecially designedftojenable a group or batteryv of storage battery cells to be quickly installed to the best advantage in a restricted space, such as the battery tank or compartment of a submarine boat.

Another object of my invention resides in a construction whereby any number of bat-.

tery cells in anassembly are ysecurely held in proper relative position and rigidly maintained in the ycompartment ink/which@y they are positioned against movement with g respect thereto andv with respect to each other, andwherebyl the individual cells are spaced and insulated from andv kept out of contact with the walls of suoli compartment and each other, and areguarded from contact with other conducting bodies.

My invention furtherconsists of `a"n improved arrangement of cells in the compartment thereforl whereby adequate and intercommunicating i spaces are yprovidedon i all sides of the cell lso asto insure easy ventilation and cooling thereof, and in the provision of means for leffectively, preventing short-circuiting of any of thecells by nioisture or other matter which may be present or which may fall into thecompartment.

Other objects and features of my iiivention will be hereinafter Vmore* fully described and claimed.' g y For a clearer understanding of 'my invention, attention is directed to the draw# STORAGE-BATTERY ASSEMBLY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

tery 'compartment are shown in thisligure,

" jacent cellsfin spaced relation and for prelator shown `in F ig. 5,.

Patented Janfi, i921.

Applicationv aiea'Aprii ao', 1919..,` serial Nq. 293,792.

ingsr accompanying and.' forming ay partfof this Lspecification, in which: r

Figure yl is atransifersesectional view, partlybroken away, taken on a `plane indil cated byfline- 1-1 of Fig. 2, throughlthe hull of a submarine boat showing a storage battery assembly therein in accordancefwith myinvention, the insulators employed at lthey adjacentend of the assembly being omitted.

Thek construction and arrangement to the right of a vertical central plane longitudi-r` nally of the boat indicated by the line A'-A,

figuref, i, o

Fig. 2 is ka 1 fragmental" plank view, shown somewhat diagrammatically, lof i the con-, struction andy arrangement shown vin Fig.` Il, the "cover of the battery lcompartment being omitted. Only ya few fof the cellsv in the' group in tlieright-hand chamber of the batand is therefore mostly omitted iny this thelarrangement of the cells in this group is similar to that of the group of cells shown inthe lefthand'chamber'ofthe battery conipartment.

AF ig. is" an" enlarged fragmental plan .view showing the meansy for connecting poles of adjacent cellsin my proposed assembly, ,and ther means for maintaining ad' venting material entering the space between adjacent rows of cells.J k f Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of one ele` ment ofthe means employed forelectrically 1 connecting adjacent cells. frk f Fig. 5 is an enlarged top plan View of one formy of insulator employed in my battery assembly for maintaining` adjacent cells thereof in spaced relation. Fig. 6 is aview in elevation of theinsur lator shown in Fig. 5. Fig. '7 is a'bottoinplan view of theins'u-4 ig ."8 is an enlarged top plan View 'of another form of insulator employed in my battery assembly for maintaining adjacentioo cellsthereof in spaced relation.

Fig., 9y is a view in elevation of the insuglator shown in Fig. 8. y

F ig. 10`is an enlarged plan view showing the yform "of insulators employed in main- 105 tain-ing theend cells of the adjacent longiy y* rd is the sameas that shown yatthe left thereof "tending longitudinally of the boat.

tudinally extending rows of cells which are supported at the same level in the battery assembly, spaced and insulated from each other and from the adjacent walls or partitions of the battery compartment.

Figs. l11 and 12fare views similar to Figs. 8 and 9 respectively, showing the form of insulators employed in maintaining the end cells of the adjacent longitudinally extending rows of cells which are supported at different levels in my battery assembly, spaced and insulated from each other and from the adjacent walls or partitions of the battery compartment.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged plan view showing the form of insulators employed in maintainingl thecells in the outermost of the lon-l gitudinally extending rows of `cells in the battery assembly, spaced and insulated from each other and from the adjacent side walls of the battery compartment.

'F ig.. 14 is an enlarged View in elevation, partly broken away, of one of the insulating strips kfor preventing material entering the space betweeny adjacent longitudinal-ly extending rows of cells of the battery assembly.

Referring to the drawing, reference character 1 represents the hull of a submarine boat in the lower portion of which is provided the usual battery compartment B ex- The battery compartment Bis divided longitudinally thereof into two chambers C and D as by means of a transverse partition or ventilatingbaliie 2. A transverse wall or Ventilating balile 3 is also provided adjacent each end of the battery compartment B, only one of such walls being shown.

In each of the chambers C and D is disposed a group. or battery of storage battery cells, with the. cells of each group connected in series. The battery compartment B is formed with a top or cover 3f having a central depressed portion 4 and with opposite vertical side walls, only one of which is shown at 5.

It has heretofore been customary to provide vthe battery compartment of a submarine boat with a continuous flat Hoor or bottom and mount the cells of each group or battery of cells thereon in parallel rows extending longitudinally of the compartment. Consequently but a comparatively few of such rows of cells could be mounted in the battery compartment as it was impossible because of the height of these cells and the shape of the hull of the boat, to utilize more ybottom or floor of battery compartment B in sections disposed at different levels, on each of which sections one or more longitudinally extendingurowsof ,cells of the battery in each of the chambers C and D are supported. As shown I form the bottom of the battery compartment B with a comparatively wide central section 6 close to the bottom of the hull 1, and stepped-up sections 7 and 8 at either side of the cen-tral section 6. In the assembly illustrated a plurality of rows E of cells are supported on the lowermost central ioor section 6, onerow F on each intermediate floor section 7 and one row G on each uppermost floor section 8. The construction and arrangement. just describedl canof course, be varied so as to best suit the space whichl may be available. The longitudinally extending rows of cells E, F and G are arranged parallel to and spaced from each other. Each of the cells is preferably of the Edison submarine type and comprises a large substantially rectangular conducting container 10 in which the battery elements, not shown, are disposed, having the cover 11 and the bottom (not shown) welded to the side walls thereof in the usual manner. Each of these cells is provided with a positive pole 12 and a negative pole 13 extendingl through and above the top 11 thereof. The cells in each of the. rows E, F and G are arranged in spaced relation to each other and the corresponding cells in said rows are in alinement and constitute rows or seriesof cells extending transversely of the battery compartment at right angles to the rows. E, F and G. It will therefore be seen that the spaces between corresponding pairs of acent cells in rows. E, F and G will be in alinement and will intersect the spaces between the rows E, F and G at right angles thereto.

vThe floor sections 6, 7 and 8 are respectively provided with upper surface layers or coverings 14, 15 and 16 formed of insulating material, such as wood, and the vertical wall sections between the pairs of adjacent loor sections 6, 7 and 7, 8. are also each provided. with a surface layer 17 of insulating material, such as. wood.

Each of the cells. is. supported on the respective floor section 6, 7, or 8 and spaced and insulated therefrom by means of petticoat insulators 18, preferably of porcelain and preferably similar to. the supporting insulators disclosed in a cepending application of M. R. Hutchison and C. W. Norton, Serial No. 143,493, filed January 20, 19.17, and entitled Battery supporting devices.

The cells in each group or battery are maintained spaced and insulated from each other and from the walls of the respective chamber C or D of the battery compartment B, and are also rigidly held against movement relative to each other and to the walls of the respective chamber by means of a f of these insulators 19, referring to Figs. y

rangement and construction of which will now be described.

One of the insulators 19 is disposed at each ofthe intersections of the spaces between the rows of cells E, the tops of which are at the same level, with the spaces between the transversely extending rows of cells. Each to 7, consists of an elongated body portion 2O provided with two pairs of longitudinally extending projections 21, 21 and 22,kr

22; each of said pairs being in alinement and at right angles to the other pair. Flach of' the said projections is substantially rectangular in transverse ysection,la`nd the body portion 20 will therefore be cross-shapedin transverse section. The outer face loffeach of the projections formed on the body por-y tion 20 is .preferably iuted or grooved lon gitudinally'thereof as indicated at 23, and the entirebottom or lower face of said body portion is preferably formed with two series of spaced grooves intersecting' at right anfgles whereby itA is provided with closely ad'- jacent substantially pyramidical j projections 24. The insulator has a substantially rectangular head 25 preferably formed inte-y grally with the body portion 20, extending beyond or overhanging the projections 21,- 21 and 22, 22 of saidk body portion, and having a depending peripheral petticoat 26.

The head 25 is also provided with a flat cen-r tral substantially rectangular upstanding portion 27 and a central vertical threaded socket 28 the purpose of which will be pres` ently described. As clearly shown in Figs.

land 3, body portion 2O of the insulatork 19 at each of saidintersecting points, extends downwardly between the four-adj acent cells,

with the projections 21, 21 respectively extending into the spaces between the two pairs yof adjacent cells in the two 'adjacent rows E, E, and with the projections 22, 22 thereof respectively extending into the spaces between the two pairs of adjacent cells in the l. two adjacent transversely extending rows of cells. The body portion 20 is rounded between each pair of adjacent projections so asy to closely it the adjacent rounded corner portions of the four adjacent cells, and the projections are of such width that their side faces will respectively closely engage the adjacent walls of the cells. As the spaces between the rows of cells E, F, and G- are preierably slightly wider than the spaces bef tween the transversely extending rows of cells, the-projections 22, 22 will obviously be somewhat wider thanvthe projections 21, 21. The member 19 is supported in the position shown from the four adjacent cells 10 by means of its head 25, the petticoat 26 of which engages withthe tops 1l of such cells.

The insulators 19 are respectively disposed at the intersections of thespaces between' the pairs of adjacent yrows of cellsf,y i

il" and F, Gf with the spaces between the transversely extendingrowsfof cells. The insulators 19 are each'of thesame constructionas the insulators 19 except that, `as

e shown inFigs. 8 and 9, one'of thefprojec vtions 21 of the body portion thereof extends to the `top of the head 25,-and.the`latter"is i formedwith. one edge B0 thereof flush with the side faces of theprojections 22, 22 which are 4adjacent such projectionL 21y andwith the yp'etticoat 26 thereof extendingralong the corresponding projections 21, and 22, 22. .T he topsof theqcellsin rows F and Gbeing yat a higher level than the` tops of the cells in the respective vadjacent rows E `and F, the rinsulator. 19 at eachr lof the intersec-V tions *ofE ythe spaces `between the pairs of adjacent rows E, F `and' F, G with the spaces kbetween theftransverse rows of cells, isari only its other three edges which overhang ranged so that its head 25 overhangs the y two adjacent' cells in' therow E or` Fat the lower level with thepetticoat 26 thereof engagingthe tops 11 offsuchcells and with they edge 30 thereof .engagingthe adjacent walls f of the twoadj acentcellsiny the row F or G at tively extendinto and closely fit ythe spacesy betweenfthe two pairs of adjacent cells in tie adjacent rows E and F or F and Gand' the projections 22,22 respectively extend into andclosely lit the spaces kbetween the twopairsof adjacent cells in the adjacent transverse rows.; y

c thehigher level, and so that the pilojections 21 f `and 21 Aof ythe bodyy portion thereof respec- The spaces between lthe end transversel l rowsoffcells in each of the ybatterycharnf bers andthe adjacentk transverse `walls or v 5 to 7, .except that the elongated bodyfportionthereof'is T-shaped in cross-section ,being provided with but a single projection 22, andthe head 32 thereofis formed with one edge 34' ush with the face ofthe body y i portionandthe adjacent side faces of the projections 21, 21 ,which are in thesaine plane, and with `its petticoat 33y extending along only itsv other three edges which ,over-l hang the 4corresponding projections 21, 21,

and 22. At each of the saidintersections the respective insulator'l is'disposedwithits j i head 32 closely engaging the adjacent parti-4 tion orwall-21or 3 and extending over the adjacent end cells of thetwo adjacent rows E, E so that yits petticoat?) engag'esthe topsl 11: of such cells, with the projections 21, 21

respectively extending into andclosely fit- 'f ting the spaces between such cells and said wall or partition, and with theV projection 22 extending into and closely fitting the space between said cells.

At the intersection of each of the spaces between the pairs of adjacent rows of cells E, F and F, G with the spaces between the end transverse rows of cells in each of chambers C andy D and the adjacent walls or partitions 2 and 3, is disposed an insulator such as shown in Figs. 11 and 12. rlhe insulators 35 are each similar in construction to the insulators 19 shown in Figs. 8 and 9, except that the elongated body portion thereof is T-shaped in cross-section, being provided with but a single projection 22, and the head 36 thereof is formed with a pctticoat 37 extending along only two of its edges which overhang the two correspondling projections 21 and 22, with another edge 38 flush with the face ofthe body portion and the adjacent side faces of the projections 21, 21 which are in the same plane, and with its remaining edge 39 flush with another face of the body portion and the side face of the projection 22 which is adjacent the projection 21". Each of the insulators 35 is arranged with its head 36 closely engaging the adjacent partition or wall 2 or 3 and extending over the lower one of the adjacent end cells of the two adjacent rows E, F or F, G and so that the petticoat 3T engages the top 11 of such cell, with the projections 21', 21 respectively extending into and closely fitting the spaces between the said cells and said wall or partition, and with the projection 22 extending into and closely litting the space between said cells.

rllhe insulators 60 shown in Fig. 13 are respectively disposed at the intersections of the spaces between the outermost rows G and the adjacent side walls 5 of the battery compartment with the spaces between the transverse rows of cells. The insulators 60 are each similar to the insulators 19 shown in Figs. 5 to 7, except that the body portion is T-shaped in cross-section, being formed with but one projection 21, and the head 61 has one'edge 63 flush with one face of said body portion and with the adjacent side faces of-the projections 22, 22 which are in the same plane, and its petticoat 62 extending along the other three edges thereof. T he insulator 60 at each of said intersecting points is positioned with the head 61 thereof engaging the adjacent Aside wall 5 atits edge 63, and extending over the two adjacent cells of the adjacn't row Gr with its petticoat 62 engaging thetops of said cells, with the projection 21 extending into and closely fitting the space between said cells, and with the projections 22 respectively ext-ending into and closely fitting the spaces between said cells and 'the adjacent wall 5.

The insulators 19, 19', 31, 35 and 60 constructed and arranged as described above. serve to maintain the cells in each of the chambers C and D of the battery compartment B spaced andinsulated from each other and from the walls of the chamber, and also prevent movement of the cells relative to each other and to the battery chamber in which they are disposed. By reason of the length of the body portions of these insulators, they project downwardly between the adjacent cells an amount sufficient to effectively prevent any relative movement of the cells at the bottom or lower ends thereof. rlhe longitudinally extending grooves or flutings 23 on the outer faces of the prol jections formed on the body portions of the insulators, considerably increase the effective width of such faces and render it much more ditlicult for moisture to creep thereacross, the liability of short-circuiting any `of the cells by reason of moisture bridging the space between any of the adjacent cells or `Ketween any cell and the adjacent wall of the respective battery chamber being thus reduced to a minimum. Moreover, the moisture will tend to run down the grooves 23 to the bottom of the insulators and not creep over the ribs therebetween. The pyrainidical projections 24 on thebottoln of each insulator also increase the effective width and length of said bottoni and act in a similar way to reduce the liability of short circuits being established by moisture creeping thereacross. Furthermore, .any moisture present on the bottoms of the insulators will tend to run down the sides of the projections 24 and drop olf the ends thereof.

Should a metallic tool or .other conducting body fall or enter into the space between any two adjacent rows of the longitudinally extending rows of cells E, F and G, a short circuit would probably result. To guard against this, insulating strips 40 are positioned directly over the spaces between each pair of adjacent rows E, E, and insulating strips 49 are positioned directly over the spaces between the pairs of adjacent rows E, F and F, G and also directly over the spaces between the outer rows of cells G and the adjacent walls 5 of the battery compartment B. Each of the strips 40 (see Fig. 14) preferably consists of a thin metal stiffening strip 41 having a covering 42 of insulating material, preferably semi-hard rubber, suitably secured thereto, and is provided at each end with a semi-circular notch 43 of the same radius as the threaded sockets 28 in the insulators 19. rl'he strips 40 are respectively secured at their end portions to the pairs of adjacent insulators 19, 31, by means of bolts 44 threaded into the sockets 28. The sha-nhs of the bolts 44 engage the notches 43 in the ends of the strips 40 and the heads of the bolts, when the latter are screwed up tight, securely clamp the end portions of the strips against the respective upstanding portions 27 and 27 of the said insulators. rlhe strips lare thus held in position over the spaces between tbe rows of cells E and a slight distance above the tops of the cells. As shown in Fig. 3,

each of the strips is somewhat wider than the space between the rows E so that it will extend over the tops of the adjacent cells for a slight distance. 'l he `strips 40 are of practically the same construction as the strips 40 and are respectively secured'in position to the pairs of adjacent insulators 19', n

space between the adjacent rows F and Gry engage at one side edge with the adjacent walls of the cells in row G, and the strips over the space between the pair of adjacent rows of cells E and F engage at one edge with the adjacent walls of ythe cells in row F. No short circuit would result if a conducting body fell betweenadjacent cells in any of the rows E, F and Gr with the cells of each group or battery connected in series as shown, and it is therefore unnecessary to provide means, such as the strips 4() and 40 over the spaces between the transversely extending rows of cells to prevent .conducting y bodies entering suchspaces,v

The cells of4 each battery are connected in series, preferably as follows: On each of the two adjacent poles 12 and 13 of unlike polarity of each pair of adjacent cells is mounted a connector member 50. Each connector member 50 comprises a split, slightly resilient portion having a cylindrical opening 51 therethrough and a pair of opposed lugs 52, 52 ,at the sides of the split having a bolt 53 extending therethrough, whereby the connector member may be rigidly secured to the respective pole 12 or 13 which is engaged with the opening 51, and a projecting portion or lug 54 having a socket 55 eX- tending inwardly from one face thereof and at right angles t0 the opening 51. The two connector members 50 are mounted on said poles with the portions or lugs 54 thereof parallel and extending in opposite directions from the respective poles and so that the respective sockets 55 will be opposed but olfset from each other, as shown in Fig. 3; and said members are electrically connected preferably by means of a exible conductor 56 provided with end portions 57 and 58 which respectively engage the sockets 55 of the members with a tight fit.

` Each of the cells in each of the rows F arid Gr is preferably provided at the top cortainer or a polefofacell'in the adjacent ed inthe space kbetween two of said adjacent rows, in a position ldirectly over and coverofbattery cells arranged in a pluralityv of ner portion thereof which is adjacent the corresponding cell inthe adjacent lower row E or F,with yadcovering orlayer 70 kof insulating material, preferably' semi -hard ,j rubber, -`suitably lsecured thereto. Con'se- 70r rquently, the danger off short circuits' being established yby a conducting'body, for eX- ample, a wrench or steelbar, engagingrany` such corner portion and the conducting yconlowerrow is practically eliminated.

f V"While Ihave described thepreferred construction and arrangement kof myimproved assembly, itis tobe understood that nui merous changes and @modifications may "bel made therein without departure from the spirit of myinvention or the scope ofy the appended claims.k f.

Havingfnow describedmy invention,what I claim as new and desire to protect byv Letters Patent is as follows: Y .1. In a storage battery assembly, a group ofk battery cells arranged in a pluralityofL adjacent parallel spaced rows with the cells 'iin each row in spaced relation, means `for maintaining allsaid cells in spacedrelation, comprising a plurality of insulating members respectively disposed at the intersections'ofthe spacesbetween said rows with the spaces between the cells in each row, theinsulating ,memberl at each such intersecting point havingiengagement with the .four

adjacent cells, and insulating vstrips carried by certain ofsaid insulating memberslocating Saidspace, substantially as described.

2. In' asto'rage battery assembly, a group adjacent parallel spaced rows with'the cells in each row in spaced relation, and'means for maintaining jthe cells in such spacedl relation, comprising' afplurality of insulating f members'respectivelyy having portions leX- tending .into the spaces between correspond-" ing pairs of adjacent cells in two adjacent rows ofcel-ls and into thefspace'between said two rows, said insulating memberseach j having a head provided with a peripheral depending petticoat engaging a top portion of at least one of the `adjacent cells whereby it `is 'supported by vthe latter, substantially as described.

3. The combinationr of` a battery compartment, a row of cells disposed thereinr y and extending'v thereacross, some of thead` jacent ycells being supported with their tops at different levels, and means for maintaining said cells in spaced relation, comprising insulatingfmembers respectively disposed between adjacent cells, eachy of the insulating members disposed between two adjacent cells `having their tops at different levels, being supported from the top of the cell yat the lower level, substantially as described.

4. The combination of `a battery compart` ment, a 'row of cells disposed therein and extending thereacross, some of the adjacent cells being supported with their tops at different levels, and some ofV the vadjacent cells heilig supported with their tops at the same level, and means for maintaining said cells in spaced relation, comprising insulating members respectively disposed between adjacent cells, each of the insulating members disposed between two adjacent cells having their tops at diiierent levels being supported from lthe top of the cell at the lower level, and each of the insulating members disposed between two adjacent cells haifing their tops at the same level being supported from the tops of both such cells, substantially7 as described.

In combination, a battery compartment, the bottom-oi said,compart1nent being` formed in sections at different levels, a group or" cells disposed in sa-id compartment and' arranged in a plurality oi adjacent parallel spaced rows with the cells -in each vrow in spaced relation, one or more of said rows of cells being supported on each or' 'said bot tom sections in 'spaced and insulated relation thereto, and means for maintaining all said cells in fixed spaced relation to each other and -to the walls of said compartment, comprising a plurality ot insulating members respectively disposed at the intersections ot the spaces between said rows with the spaces Vbetween the cells in each row, the insulating memberlat each intersect-ing point havingvengagement with the four adjacent cells, and the insulating members disposed between adjacent rows oit cells supported on bottom sections oi' the compartment which are at different levels being supported only from the tops of the cells supported on the lower section, and means for maintaining the cells of `the routermost rows of cells spaced and insulated from adjacent walls of the compartment, substantially as described.

6. An insulator for separating storage battery cells, comprising a body por-tion formed with longitudinally extending projections, and a head provided with a peripheral petticoat overhanging at least one ot said projections, substantially as described.

7. An insulator for separating storage battery cells, comprising a body portion Yformed with longitudinally extending` projections. the outer faces or' said projections being tinted longitudinally thereof, and a head over-hanging at least one of said projections, substantially as described.

8. An insulator for separating storage battery cells, comprising a body portion termed with longitudinally extending proj ections, the bottom tace ot the body portion being tinted or grooved, and a head provided with a peripheral petticoat overhanging` projections of said body portion, substantially as described.

9. An insulator for separating storage battery cells, comprising an elongated body portion formed with a longitudinally extending projection, the outerv tace of said projection being luted longitudinally thereot', substantially as described.

l0. An insulator for separating storage battery cells, comprising an elongated body portion the bottom face of which is fiuted or grooved, substantially as described.

l1. An insulator for separating storage battery cells having a body portion adapted to extend between adjacent cells, the bottom face of said body portion being provided with intersecting grooves, substantially as described.

l2. An insulator for separating storage battery cells having a body portion adapted to extend between adjacent cells` the-bottoni tace of said body portion being yprovided with spaced projections, substantially as dcscribed.

This speciiication signed this 22nd day of April, 1919.v

LAMAR LYNDON. 

